June 12, 2020 became a black day for the local Physical Education Unit, when a fire engulfed the local building with cabins early in the morning. Although the subsequent season was canceled due to covid, the Přestanova team signed up for the next one, but had to play all matches on the opponent’s fields. This is also why the club did not sign up for the 2022/2023 season, and the wait for a football match in Přestanov has already stretched for three years.
“The restart took place last season, when we started playing here again after the fire. A lot of credit goes to Mr. Kolář and the team coach, Mr. Malec. The team only sat down completely this season, which we are going through without defeat so far, and we have a great team here. It was also visible in the match against Vaňov, where we spent the entire second half weakened,” said one of the players, Lukáš Bárta, who came to Přestanov from Telnice.
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“The time without football here was hard, especially for the local people and fans, for whom it was a really big hit. Now we are trying to bring football back to their awareness with the help of social networks, and the local pub is also helping us, which on the days when we play opens earlier, so there is also a background for the fans, which makes it attractive for them. However, they have to learn to walk again, because football has not been here for several years. I believe that progress can be really great in the future,” he added.
The largely reconstructed area opened its doors again at the start of last season, due to unapproved cabins, the Přestanovský had to go to the asylum even in the fall. This was partly reflected in their results, the team ended up ninth in the district championship, although since the spring they were finally able to start on their home turf.
FINALLY HOME
It was not until this year, four years after the tragedy, that the club, which is now led by a number of former players from nearby Chlumec, was lucky enough to make full use of the home facilities right from the opening rounds. And the team led by coach Jan Malc grabbed the chance to restart by the scruff of the neck. He made additional reinforcements before the season and so far unwaveringly dominates his competition, while making no secret of his goal of returning to the I. B class he once played after years.
The district championship is already leading by seven points (with a game to spare), the last time Vaňov scored 5:3 at home in a goal-rich match. “We are certainly satisfied, both with the win and with the attendance, despite the cold weather, a lot of fans came,” praised forward Martin Levinský, the second best scorer in the competition with sixteen hits, for his eleventh win of the season. “In the beginning, we couldn’t get a lot of hold, but the goals we scored helped us. I also appreciate the fact that we brought the match to a winning end despite the fact that we played more than half time at ten,” completed the assessment of the author of two goals.
“It was a stupid match for us. We knew about the strength of Přestanov, which was also confirmed by the table before this round. But I think that the match did not develop accordingly, it was up and down, unfortunately we made a number of mistakes in our own goal, which cost us points,” said the experienced Milan Seidl, one of Vaňov’s summer reinforcements.
Until the end of autumn, the last round and the play-off from September, when the football program was postponed by floods, are missing. Will Přestanov succeed in Chuderov against Velké Chvojn and then in Skorotice and maintain the autumn balance without a single blemish on beauty? A respectable finish is really not far away.
Přestanov – Vaňov, Ústeck district championship 2024/2025 | Video: Diary/Daniel Brzák